09/15/2026
To talk about The Block Party 2026, we have to go back to the original Block Party in 2018. ⬇️
The Neighborhood wasn’t necessarily built with a mission, direction, or intention of becoming an annual event. Oddly enough, The Block Party came before The Neighborhood.
In 2018, a local art gallery, The SOAP Gallery, gave us a space and a chance to try something new in the city. That opportunity came with a parking lot, a loading dock, a whole lotta love, and even more duct tape.
We drummed up year one in less than 30 days. The blueprint was simple: Make the loading dock a stage. Contact all the sickest artists we were friends with. Serve sausage sandwiches. Let everyone bring their own beer.
We put up a pop up tent in case it rained, which it did.
And despite the weather, we did it, it was great, and that was pretty much it. No plans for year two until we got the question: “You’re doing this again next year, right?”
We’ve been “doing it again next year” for the past 9 years, mainly with goodluck and sunshine. This year however, we were reminded just how well our community rolls with the punches.
You guys cooperated with us when the weather didn’t. Showed up and partied with us when we moved inside. Supported each other when everyone was soaken wet.
This year reminded us the power of community when things go right AND when they don’t go as planned. It reminded us that maybe the plan was never about the perfect set up, the perfect weather, or everything going according to plan.
It was always about giving people a place to show up, be together, and make something special with what the day handed to us. At least to our team, that’s what The Block Party is all about. ❤️
🎥 + THANK YOU to Appleridge Productions for an incredible recap video 🎞️ & Madden Chambers for the sick cover photo!
